I apologize for taking another break from blogging. For the past month, I have been getting my house ready for sale and keeping it model home perfect. Fortunately, I had an offer in just four days at the full asking price. That should have removed most of the stress and anxiety I was experiencing. My FTD never allows my stress and anxiety to ebb to the point where I am comfortable. Add in the paranoia that FTD has given me, I will not be able to relax until all is done here and I have moved into the new house.
About that: When my husband passed away in November, I said I would not make any major decisions for six months. Around the 3 month mark, my sister and my psychologist both reminded me that I had been planning to move near my daughter for several years but was unable to convince my husband. I am quite proud of myself that I actually let my adult daughter pick out a house big enough for us each to have our own space. Turns out, she is having one built. I asked her to make all the decisions about it in order to not add more stress and anxiety to my life.
So, my house sold very quickly and the home inspection was scheduled for today. I never stopped to think that it would be cancelled due to the COVID19? Turns out real estate is not an essential business and is shut down. I am now paranoid that it won't pass inspection and I will have to go through the entire process again. Fortunately, my realtor is very helpful and keeps reassuring me.
How have I been surviving? Lists, lists and more lists. Even simple little things that I would not have to think about. I have actually figured out who will help me when I ask (read that as "beg"). The only ones I can rely on is my brother in law (and my sister), along with my niece and her fiance. Without them, I would have not been able to show the house. They, along with my daughter who is three states away, can calm me down.
It is a relief that no strangers will be roaming through my house looking in every nook and cranny so that I can stop worrying about their health affecting mine.
I am happy self-isolating. I have always self isolated to some extent, but am now pretty close to self-quarantining. I take this very seriously as should every one with FTD and their caregivers. FTD, as most diseases, weakens our immune system, making us more vulnerable to any virus. Obviously, this is something for caregivers to do as well. The Corona virus has a long incubation period yet the person may not show any symptoms for two weeks which risks it being transferred to everyone they are exposed to.
I have not allowed my caregiver to visit at all this week because she had a sore throat. I will not allow her to come next week either. Self isolating is really easy for me since I don't like anyone around me anyway, especially when I am stressed.
I did go to the doctor yesterday, but they were taking many protective measures so that I was not closer than 6 feet to anyone and they cleaned the exam room before I went in. Only two patients were allowed in the waiting room at one time and they were limited to one person assisting them and no one under the age of 18. All of my other appointments have been cancelled. The only reason I went yesterday was a UTI that did not resolve with the first round of antibiotics.
Urinary Tract Infections must be taken very seriously. I tell those with FTD and their caregivers this all the time. It can cause a worsening of any or all FTD symptoms. They should be checked out any time there is a rapid increase of symptoms. Obviously, the cause is not always an UTI, but it is the easiest to rule out.
When getting ready to write this, I searched "FTD and urinary tract infections" and what was at the top of the list but a blog I had previously written on the subject. I guess I never learn. I will give you a link about that if you want to read more: https://ftdnoflowers.blogspot.com/2017/09/urinary-tract-infection-and-dementia.html
Reading back over what I have written, it reads disjointed to me. I apologize, today is a bad FTD day for me. The most important thing I have to say is, "Don't panic about the Corona Virus, prepare for it." If you don't have bleach spray, you can make your own if you have bleach, a 30 to 1 dilution. Washing your hands thoroughly with bar soap is better than hand sanitizer. Above all, don't allow your FTD'ers to watch non-stop TV reports about it. Most of us can not handle the added stress, anxiety and fear.
